Floyd Roland

Mr. Speaker, a correction: it was 400,000 litres of fuel.

When it first came up, our communication between the Petroleum Products Division and Imperial was to see if, in fact, there was a shortfall that needed to be addressed. We had some volume that we felt we could allow them to use and reimburse us later. We were informed at that point that that was not necessary. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the work that we have been doing is ensuring that there’s fuel available in the community, working with Imperial on that side. We are aware of some of the comments or the issues between NTCL and Imperial. We’ve tried to gather information on that side.

When it comes right down to it, we have a limited role that we can play. But we are concerned and we are sharing that concern that it doesn’t matter to us, as representatives, if it was a community we served or the private sector: their arrangements to get fuel or supplies to a community are their business. But they should ensure...

The work that was done previously has incorporated a group. It was originally through the Aboriginal Summit, where a joint proposal was put forward to Canada on a devolution resource revenue sharing agreement. Since that day things have changed. The Aboriginal Summit is no longer in place.

I would use this avenue as an avenue to address what may be done if there’s a joint initiative we can establish to move forward and work with them on that basis. As well, from that basis, if there’s further direction on initiatives and work, or further information we need to get, we’re back to that process of...

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we have a package together that we are going to use with departments to highlight when consultation is necessary and needs to be done, what steps would be required, and what is considered actual consultation. As well, we have to use the court cases that have been settled out there and have an impact, because that affects the way governments would consult with each other.

There also needs to be the recognition that consultation isn’t a one-way street. It requires both parties to come together. When it’s a specific initiative, when contact is made, there’s follow-up...

Mr. Speaker, in fact, as we have our credit rating established through Moody’s and we looked at this borrowing situation, we have been in contact with them. They’re aware of the situation, they have reviewed it, and they feel we’re in a healthy situation and this is something that is affordable if things were to go wrong. The fact is we’re planning things will move along, and we’ll show that this was a good investment for the future of the Northwest Territories.

The bridge corporation process is being treated the same way we deal with capital leases and is recognized as well — as Members would know who are familiar with the Financial Administration Act — under that area. So we account for it in that area, but like many of our leases throughout many communities in the Northwest Territories, they don’t show up on our guaranteed debt position.

Mr. Speaker, if we don’t change the course we’re on today, before the end of the life of this government we will be in a dire situation. We would not be able to carry forward the business as laid out. We have to remind ourselves sometimes that we are spending $1.2 billion for 43,000 people in the Northwest Territories.

There’s got to be a way. We’re starting to do that exercise, and we’ll be more so in the second year of government, re-focusing and looking at how we spend that money and what the results are for that investment. I think we have to consider it as an investment. It’s not just an...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to rise to inform people back home in Inuvik that I will be heading back home to Inuvik next week from Monday to Wednesday.

I look forward to visiting with them once again and sharing their stories, and continuing to get back to work for the people of Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, the departments are well aware of the challenges in delivering the services to our communities large and small. They are having a difficult time meeting the demands. As the Member has highlighted, the nursing side has always been a challenge in our communities. So the departments, as they’ve come through that scenario, again were mandated to deliver programs at levels in communities that still have to be met through this exercise. As we go through this exercise, Health has its overall target to meet, but it also has to look at the delivery it is mandated to deliver for people in...

Mr. Speaker, we have a lead Minister that’s dealing with the Building Canada Fund on the infrastructure side, that being Minister McLeod, so I’d ask that that be redirected to Minister Michael McLeod. Thank you.